Daily Readings - Sun Feb 04 2018

First Reading - Job 7.1-4, 6-7

¹The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand²Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work³so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights⁴If I lie down to sleep, I will say, "When will I rise?" And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness⁶My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope⁷Remember that my life is wind, and my eye will not return to see good things

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 9.16-19, 22-23

1 Corinthians

Chapter 9

¹⁶For if I preach the Gospel, it is not glory for me. For an obligation has been laid upon me. And woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel¹⁷For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if I do this reluctantly, a dispensation is granted to me¹⁸And what, then, would be my reward? So, when preaching the Gospel, I should give the Gospel without taking, so that I may not misuse my authority in the Gospel¹⁹For when I was a free man to all, I made myself the servant of all, so that I might gain all the more²²To the weak, I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. To all, I became all, so that I might save all²³And I do everything for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become its partner

Gospel - Mark 1.29-39

Mark

Chapter 1

²⁹And soon after departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John³⁰But the mother-in-law of Simon lay ill with a fever. And at once they told him about her³¹And drawing near to her, he raised her up, taking her by the hand. And immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them³²Then, when evening arrived, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who had maladies and those who had demons³³And the entire city was gathered together at the door³⁴And he healed many who were troubled with various illnesses. And he cast out many demons, but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him³⁵And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed³⁶And Simon, and those who were with him, followed after him³⁷And when they had found him, they said to him, "For everyone is seeking you.³⁸And he said to them: "Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came.³⁹And he was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all of Galilee, and casting out demons

Sermon

The readings today present us with a powerful interplay between human suffering, selfless service, and the call to mission. In the first reading, Job describes his life as a relentless struggle, filled with emptiness and sorrow. His words echo the universal human experience of pain and the search for meaning in the midst of hardship. Job’s lament reminds us that suffering is not foreign to the human condition, and it invites us to reflect on how we respond to our own struggles with faith and hope. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the apostle Paul, who speaks of his obligation to preach the Gospel. Paul’s words reveal a deep sense of responsibility and selflessness. He adapts himself to all people, becoming “all things to all men,” in order to share the Good News. This reading challenges us to consider how we might serve others with similar dedication, not for personal gain, but for the sake of the Gospel. Paul’s example calls us to live with a missionary heart, always seeking to bring Christ to those around us. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the compassionate healer who brings hope and restoration to those in need. Jesus’ ministry is marked by action—he heals the sick, casts out demons, and preaches the Good News. Yet, even in the midst of his busy ministry, Jesus takes time to pray, grounding his work in intimate communion with the Father. This balance of action and prayer is a model for us. Like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of healing and hope in the world, but we must also nurture our relationship with God through prayer. As we go about our daily lives, may we strive to imitate Christ’s compassion, serve others selflessly, and remain rooted in prayer, trusting that God will use us to bring light and love to a world in need.